Whether you recently got a haircut and your stylist cut a bit too much off, or you just want to grow your hair down to your butt, achieving long(er) hair is a marathon, not a sprint. You don't just want long hair, you want strong, healthy, undamaged strands that are envy-worthy rather than stringy and straw-like in appearance. While there isn’t a magic pill that will get you overnight results, there are ways to speed up your hair's growth rate; taking into consideration factors such as hair type, lifestyle, hairstyles, and even shower habits, here are some of our favorite tips for getting the mermaid hair of your dreams.

Say Hi to Your New BFF: Scissors

It’s time to settle the debate once and for all, YES cutting your hair does help it grow faster - but not in the way you think it does. When you get regular trims, you cut down on the amount of dead and split ends you have and which are one of the leading causes of hair that looks damaged and dull, as well as keep the tips looking healthy. When you go long periods of time without a trim, it allows split ends to travel up to the root, causing hair to break off high up on the strand, ultimately leading to shorter hair than you’d have with consistent trims.

Condition, Condition, Condition

Many people shampoo every single time they shower while simultaneously skipping conditioner when it should really be the other way around; anyone trying to grow long, beautiful hair absolutely needs to use conditioner - no ifs, ands, or buts. When you style your hair and dye it, it becomes thinner at the bottom due to damage and breakage. By using conditioner, which seals the hair cuticle, you can reverse a lot of the damage caused by these actions.  

Say Bye to Pony’s and Towel Wraps

Two of the quickest ways to damage and break hair - especially when it’s wet - are putting your hair up in a ponytail, and wrapping your hair in a big towel after a shower. Towels are terrible for your hair because your strands get caught in the fibers of the towel, and many women wrap it very tightly around their face which causes the short, fragile hair in the area to be more prone to breakage. Ponytails are something to avoid because they pull the hair and can cause it to break off; there’s even something called a “chemical cut” which is where dry and heavily color treated hair breaks off around the area hair ties create tension at.

Supplements Work

Factors like diet and water intake play a significant role in the health of your hair, supplements can be useful in filling in any holes in your diet and give your hair additional nutrients and vitamins to boost its growth and health. Take a look at your diet, and then go from there to determine what nutrients you’re lacking and need a supplement to replace. Also, remember it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure you’re ingesting the correct amounts and that it won’t interfere with any medications you might be taking.